Gray Death: The Makings of One of The Deadliest Opioids

As the opioid crisis continues to impact thousands of lives each day, it is important to know about all opioid drugs. “Gray Death”, a new opioid drug, is so strong that one single dose can lead to fatal overdose. Sharing a similar color as concrete mixing powder, the drug mixture is used in the form of rocks, chunks or powder. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were more than 63,600 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2016. Behind some of those overdoses nationwide, is gray death.

What is in Gray Death?

There are four main ingredients that make up the drug:

Heroin: One of the greatest risks of heroin is that it can slow down or completely stop the user’s breathing.

U-47700: 7.5 times stronger than morphine. Drug labs create and sell this product using instructions that are public record.

Fentanyl: Found in 81 percent of overdose deaths from January – August 2017.

Carfentanil: 10,000 times stronger than morphine. Veterinarians use the drug to tranquilize for large animals like elephants.

How is Gray Death Used?

Users consume the drug by common methods such as smoking, snorting, injecting and even eating the chunks. However, there are more unbelievable ways to fall under the influence of the drug. Gray Death can enter the body simply through accidental contact with the skin, or inhaling the powdered form. In one instance, a police officer in East Liverpool, Ohio brushed some of the powder off his shirt after arresting two suspects and almost fatally overdosed on the drug later in the police station.

Gray Death is among the Deadliest Opioids

Opioids often cause respiratory depression. But Gray Death is so strong that naloxone, the opioid emergency medication, sometimes cannot be administered fast enough to resuscitate someone in the middle of an overdose. The risks of Gray Death and other opioids are a great danger to our society.

The Cove Center for Recovery offers comprehensive treatment for adults who are struggling with substance abuse disorders and mental health issues. Call us at (855) 248 – 4395 to learn more about how we can help your loved one overcome drug addiction. No one deserves to fight drug addiction alone.